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Lot Essay
While it has been repeatedly suggested that this bonheur-du-jour is connected to Empress Maria Feodorovna of Russia, this cannot be firmly established. However, it's provenance carries another name almost as storied as that of the Romanov's: Rothschild. It was among the works of art sold by the executors of the 6th Earl of Rosebery in the celebrated series of sales held at Mentmore, Buckinghamshire, in 1977. It is unlikely that such an important piece of furniture would have left Pavlovsk during the 19th century - as Maria Feodorovna made clear in her testament that the palace and collections should remain undisturbed. And her wish was respected by her descendents until 1917. The desk was acquired for Mentmore by Baron Mayer Amschel de Rothschild (1818-1874), most likely during the 1850's - even though he was buying from the 1830's through the early 1870's. Despite its English façade and spectacular Italian style Hall, the interiors of Mentmore were largely designed and constructed by Frenchmen - including most of the Louis XV period boiseries from the Hôtel de Villars. And during the 1850's the interiors were filled with Rothschild's collection of 18th century French decorative arts. After Rothschild's death, the house and collections were inherited by his only child Hannah (1851-1890), the wealthiest heiress in the country, who then married the 5th Earl of Rosebery, the future Prime Minister.
This desk was almost certainly bought by Rothschild as French - and while most of the decorative elements were influenced by French cabinetmakers, the grand, almost architectural presence of the desk, notably the cornice, link it to Russian pieces rather than the more delicate French prototypes. The use of the white marble columns and inset panels -- especially those overlaid with contrasting ormolu mounts -- further emphasize the non-French manufacture of this piece. These elements are often used in late 18th century Russian furniture but also appear in German -- specifically Berlin -- pieces. Since so many of the cabinetmakers working in Russia in the 18th century were either German or trained in German workshops, these possibly 'Germanic' elements do not contradict a Russian provenance.
This desk was almost certainly bought by Rothschild as French - and while most of the decorative elements were influenced by French cabinetmakers, the grand, almost architectural presence of the desk, notably the cornice, link it to Russian pieces rather than the more delicate French prototypes. The use of the white marble columns and inset panels -- especially those overlaid with contrasting ormolu mounts -- further emphasize the non-French manufacture of this piece. These elements are often used in late 18th century Russian furniture but also appear in German -- specifically Berlin -- pieces. Since so many of the cabinetmakers working in Russia in the 18th century were either German or trained in German workshops, these possibly 'Germanic' elements do not contradict a Russian provenance.